Home

October 23, 2014

Hi-tech surveillance cameras to help security forces zoom in on China

In the
wake of increasing Chinese aggression and the difficulty of physically
manning the vast India-China border, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
is acquiring high-end surveillance cameras
that can see over 20 km deep into Chinese territory. One such camera
has been installed at a border outpost (BoP) in Leh and at least 50 more
are in the pipeline.

The acquisition is part of a largescale
revamp in China border security infrastructure being undertaken by the
government following frequent Chinese incursions in the past couple of
years, the latest being over fortnight-long faceoffs in Demchok and
Chumar areas of Ladakh last month. Government is already in the process
of acquiring vehicles and choppers for the force.Stressing
on the need for greater infrastructure, ITBP DG Subhash Goswami said,
"China has become more aggressive in the recent past. Its protests
against Indian road building exercises have become more vociferous.
Perhaps, it is reacting to India aggressively improving infrastructure
along the border."

On the installation of cameras, Goswami
said, "We are fully ready to face any challenge from China. Our boys are
well trained and equipped. However, we would like to have more
surveillance equipment. We can't have boots everywhere. We have
installed a state-of-the-art surveillance camera at Thakung post (north of Chushul) and it can see 20-22 km ahead. We are asking government for more such equipment."

Sources said the camera is equipped for thermal imaging
as well and thus can see at night too. The footage from the camera
recorded over a period of 10 days would be analyzed to gauge the pattern
of Chinese troop movement or infrastructure buildup. Sources said at
least 50 BoPs in Ladakh could be given such cameras.

Sources
said there are also long-term plans for laying optical fibres along the
border. As and when that happens, cameras could be connected to BoPs and
eventually with headquarters in Delhi for real time monitoring of the
border. There is already a plan afoot to have wireless area network in
all BoPs.The
ITBP DG also said two of the 27 proposed roads on the border had been
completed are were functioning well. He said the force had also started
electronic procurement of its requirements
and this had not only brought transparency but also reduced cost and
widened the playing field. "We now have 100% e-procurement. This has
brought prices of goods down by 20%," Goswami said.

The DG revealed the information during ITBP's annual press conference. He also denied reports of ITBP coming under Army's operational control. "I have not heard of any such thing," he said.The DG
also raised a red flag on health hazards of working at high altitudes
and hinted at the force needing to have reserve battalions. "We have
100% deployment. So rotation (from difficult posting to peace posting)
becomes difficult. Given the conditions in which our jawans function, it
has an impact on their health. Only recently, 20 jawans died of heart
attack," said Goswami- timesofindia